FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Franchot Gives Back Nearly 60K at MoCo Fair

Unclaimed Property Booth is visited by over 750; 126 find money

ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 19, 2008) - Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot's Unclaimed Property Booth visited the Montgomery County Fair last week, reuniting 126 people with over $59,000 in unclaimed funds. Comptroller employees were at the Montgomery County Fair from Friday, August 8 until Saturday, August 16 as part of a statewide initiative to help reunite Marylanders with money they are owed. Fair attendees were able to check Comptroller files for their names to see if they had any unclaimed property.

"In these tough economic times, it is our duty and our pleasure to return unclaimed property to its rightful owners," said Comptroller Franchot. "Everyday we work vigorously to locate the owners of the unclaimed property and to make sure they get what they deserve. This is just one of the ways we strive to serve the people of Maryland in the most efficient and effective way possible."

This year, 782 fair attendees searched for unclaimed property, with 126 discovering they had money in their name. The largest individual amount found during the fair was $12,265.13. The total amount discovered by fair attendees was $59,562.01.

The Comptroller's Unclaimed Property Booth next moves to the Maryland State Fair scheduled for August 21 through September 1 and the Prince George's County Fair from September 4 to September 7. The Booth is scheduled to attend a few more county fairs and festivals in Frederick, Calvert, Anne Arundel, Talbot and Wicomico counties through November.

"I encourage anyone in Montgomery County who couldn't visit our booth to log onto my website, www.marylandtaxes.com, to search our records," said Comptroller Franchot. "You never know when you might find some hidden treasure of your own."

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CONTACT:Caron Brace, 410-260-7438 (office); 410-212-9414 (cell)